Last Ukiah Costco hearing held?

After months of lengthy public hearings, the Ukiah Planning Commission Wednesday held possibly its last meeting regarding a potential Costco store on Airport Park Boulevard.

The item being considered was one of the very last steps in the long process of project approval, which was the Site Development Permit for the 148,000-square foot warehouse and 16-pump gas station.

"It makes perfect sense to us to be part of the (Redwood Business Park) and we believe it will be a successful venture for us," said Michael Okuma, director of real estate development for Costco, explaining that store's plan has been reviewed and tweaked often since its design began in 2011. "We received a lot of good feedback from the community and have made a lot of good changes based on those comments."

Ukiah Senior Planner Kim Jordan said some of those suggestions were for better screening of the project along Highway 101, adding more native plants in the landscaping plan, as well as evergreen trees so there would be year-round shade.

Okuma said sustainability was a priority for the corporation, which began implementing the ideals "before there was a term for it." He said the buildings lights would focus the light down for "zero-light spillage," the landscaping would focus on drought-tolerant plants, and "all of these measures are the right thing to do ? and just make a lot of sense."

Another project representative described how the planned 16-pump gas station featured "a double-walled tank and piping system" that was monitored 24/7 by a computer and had "no tolerance for a leak into the ground."

Landscape architect David Babcock said a lot of trees were incorporated into the site, and "we heard early on that this is a gateway site, and one of the first you'll see when you go over the hill," so planners wanted to create "a strong edge along the Highway 101, and have strong berms to hide the (parked) cars."

However, Babcock said "we also didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb -- we wanted to have the project be consistent (with the business park), but at a very high level."

Commissioner Judy Pruden wanted to know exactly who would be hired to maintain the store's trees, lamenting what she described as the destruction of trees surrounding Home Depot on North Orchard Avenue a couple of years ago.

"We've heard a lot of promises tonight," Pruden said, and Babcock responded that the store management would be hiring a local, licensed firm that was experienced in tree care, "not just a handy man with a saw."

The public also addressed the commission, including James Houle, of Redwood Valley, who insisted, "There is no need for a Costco," and Ukiah resident Mary Anne Miller who asked the commission to consider shrinking the size of the project, which she described as "an environmental disaster" as it was planned.

Many other speakers said they did not want a gas station included, and others expressed concern about the height and brightness of the lights in the parking lot and how they would affect viewing of the night sky.